Zero power slots for rx estimation and analog frequency dependence report

ABSTRACT

This disclosure provides systems, devices, apparatus, and methods, including computer programs encoded on storage media, for measurement and reporting techniques based on zero power slots. A UE may receive an allocation of one or more ZP slots from a network entity. The one or more ZP slots may correspond to one or more transmission gaps associated with the network entity. The UE may detect noise energy in the one or more ZP slots corresponding to the one or more transmission gaps associated with the network entity and measure the noise energy detected in the one or more ZP slots. The measured noise energy in the one or more ZP slots may correspond to a frequency dependence of an Rx signal at the UE.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to communication systems, andmore particularly, to measurement and reporting techniques based on zeropower slots.

INTRODUCTION

Wireless communication systems are widely deployed to provide varioustelecommunication services such as telephony, video, data, messaging,and broadcasts. Typical wireless communication systems may employmultiple-access technologies capable of supporting communication withmultiple users by sharing available system resources. Examples of suchmultiple-access technologies include code division multiple access(CDMA) systems, time division multiple access (TDMA) systems, frequencydivision multiple access (FDMA) systems, orthogonal frequency divisionmultiple access (OFDMA) systems, single-carrier frequency divisionmultiple access (SC-FDMA) systems, and time division synchronous codedivision multiple access (TD-SCDMA) systems.

These multiple access technologies have been adopted in varioustelecommunication standards to provide a common protocol that enablesdifferent wireless devices to communicate on a municipal, national,regional, and even global level. An example telecommunication standardis 5G New Radio (NR). 5G NR is part of a continuous mobile broadbandevolution promulgated by Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) tomeet new requirements associated with latency, reliability, security,scalability (e.g., with Internet of Things (IoT)), and otherrequirements. 5G NR includes services associated with enhanced mobilebroadband (eMBB), massive machine type communications (mMTC), andultra-reliable low latency communications (URLLC). Some aspects of 5G NRmay be based on the 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) standard. There existsa need for further improvements in 5G NR technology. These improvementsmay also be applicable to other multi-access technologies and thetelecommunication standards that employ these technologies.

BRIEF SUMMARY

The following presents a simplified summary of one or more aspects inorder to provide a basic understanding of such aspects. This summary isnot an extensive overview of all contemplated aspects. This summaryneither identifies key or critical elements of all aspects nordelineates the scope of any or all aspects. Its sole purpose is topresent some concepts of one or more aspects in a simplified form as aprelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.

In an aspect of the disclosure, a method, a computer-readable medium,and an apparatus are provided. The apparatus may receive an allocationof one or more zero power (ZP) slots from a network entity, the one ormore ZP slots corresponding to one or more transmission gaps associatedwith the network entity; detect noise energy in the one or more ZP slotscorresponding to the one or more transmission gaps associated with thenetwork entity; and measure the noise energy detected in the one or moreZP slots, the measured noise energy in the one or more ZP slotscorresponding to a frequency dependence of a receive (Rx) signal at auser equipment (UE).

In another aspect of the disclosure, a method, a computer-readablemedium, and an apparatus are provided. The apparatus may transmit anallocation of one or more ZP slots to at least one UE, the one or moreZP slots corresponding to one or more transmission gaps associated withthe network entity; and receive a report of a first measurement thatcorresponds to a frequency dependence of an Rx signal at the at leastone UE and a second measurement that corresponds to a combined frequencydependence of a transmit (Tx) signal of the network entity and the Rxsignal at the at least one UE, the first measurement associated withnoise energy in the one or more ZP slots corresponding to the one ormore transmission gaps associated with the network entity.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the one or moreaspects comprise the features hereinafter fully described andparticularly pointed out in the claims. The following description andthe drawings set forth in detail certain illustrative features of theone or more aspects. These features are indicative, however, of but afew of the various ways in which the principles of various aspects maybe employed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a wireless communicationssystem and an access network.

FIG. 2A is a diagram illustrating an example of a first frame, inaccordance with various aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2B is a diagram illustrating an example of DL channels within asubframe, in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2C is a diagram illustrating an example of a second frame, inaccordance with various aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2D is a diagram illustrating an example of UL channels within asubframe, in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a base station and userequipment (UE) in an access network.

FIG. 4 is a call flow diagram illustrating communications between a UEand a network entity.

FIG. 5 illustrates a diagram indicative of transmit (Tx)/receive (Rx)frequency dependence.

FIG. 6 illustrates a diagram of Tx/Rx analog circuits.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a method of wireless communication at a UE.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a method of wireless communication at a UE.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a method of wireless communication at a networkentity.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a method of wireless communication at anetwork entity.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardwareimplementation for an example apparatus and/or network entity.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardwareimplementation for an example network entity.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The detailed description set forth below in connection with the drawingsdescribes various configurations and does not represent the onlyconfigurations in which the concepts described herein may be practiced.The detailed description includes specific details for the purpose ofproviding a thorough understanding of various concepts. However, theseconcepts may be practiced without these specific details. In someinstances, well known structures and components are shown in blockdiagram form in order to avoid obscuring such concepts.

Several aspects of telecommunication systems are presented withreference to various apparatus and methods. These apparatus and methodsare described in the following detailed description and illustrated inthe accompanying drawings by various blocks, components, circuits,processes, algorithms, etc. (collectively referred to as “elements”).These elements may be implemented using electronic hardware, computersoftware, or any combination thereof. Whether such elements areimplemented as hardware or software depends upon the particularapplication and design constraints imposed on the overall system.

By way of example, an element, or any portion of an element, or anycombination of elements may be implemented as a “processing system” thatincludes one or more processors. Examples of processors includemicroprocessors, microcontrollers, graphics processing units (GPUs),central processing units (CPUs), application processors, digital signalprocessors (DSPs), reduced instruction set computing (RISC) processors,systems on a chip (SoC), baseband processors, field programmable gatearrays (FPGAs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), state machines, gatedlogic, discrete hardware circuits, and other suitable hardwareconfigured to perform the various functionality described throughoutthis disclosure. One or more processors in the processing system mayexecute software. Software, whether referred to as software, firmware,middleware, microcode, hardware description language, or otherwise,shall be construed broadly to mean instructions, instruction sets, code,code segments, program code, programs, subprograms, software components,applications, software applications, software packages, routines,subroutines, objects, executables, threads of execution, procedures,functions, or any combination thereof.

Accordingly, in one or more example aspects, implementations, and/or usecases, the functions described may be implemented in hardware, software,or any combination thereof. If implemented in software, the functionsmay be stored on or encoded as one or more instructions or code on acomputer-readable medium. Computer-readable media includes computerstorage media. Storage media may be any available media that can beaccessed by a computer. By way of example, such computer-readable mediacan comprise a random-access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), anelectrically erasable programmable ROM (EEPROM), optical disk storage,magnetic disk storage, other magnetic storage devices, combinations ofthe types of computer-readable media, or any other medium that can beused to store computer executable code in the form of instructions ordata structures that can be accessed by a computer.

While aspects, implementations, and/or use cases are described in thisapplication by illustration to some examples, additional or differentaspects, implementations and/or use cases may come about in manydifferent arrangements and scenarios. Aspects, implementations, and/oruse cases described herein may be implemented across many differingplatform types, devices, systems, shapes, sizes, and packagingarrangements. For example, aspects, implementations, and/or use casesmay come about via integrated chip implementations and othernon-module-component based devices (e.g., end-user devices, vehicles,communication devices, computing devices, industrial equipment,retail/purchasing devices, medical devices, artificial intelligence(AI)-enabled devices, etc.). While some examples may or may not bespecifically directed to use cases or applications, a wide assortment ofapplicability of described examples may occur. Aspects, implementations,and/or use cases may range a spectrum from chip-level or modularcomponents to non-modular, non-chip-level implementations and further toaggregate, distributed, or original equipment manufacturer (OEM) devicesor systems incorporating one or more techniques herein. In somepractical settings, devices incorporating described aspects and featuresmay also include additional components and features for implementationand practice of claimed and described aspect. For example, transmissionand reception of wireless signals necessarily includes a number ofcomponents for analog and digital purposes (e.g., hardware componentsincluding antenna, RF-chains, power amplifiers, modulators, buffer,processor(s), interleaver, adders/summers, etc.). Techniques describedherein may be practiced in a wide variety of devices, chip-levelcomponents, systems, distributed arrangements, aggregated ordisaggregated components, end-user devices, etc. of varying sizes,shapes, and constitution.

Deployment of communication systems, such as 5G NR systems, may bearranged in multiple manners with various components or constituentparts. In a 5G NR system, or network, a network node, a network entity,a mobility element of a network, a radio access network (RAN) node, acore network node, a network element, or a network equipment, such as abase station (BS), or one or more units (or one or more components)performing base station functionality, may be implemented in anaggregated or disaggregated architecture. For example, a BS (such as aNode B (NB), evolved NB (eNB), NR BS, 5G NB, access point (AP), atransmit receive point (TRP), or a cell, etc.) may be implemented as anaggregated base station (also known as a standalone BS or a monolithicBS) or a disaggregated base station.

An aggregated base station may be configured to utilize a radio protocolstack that is physically or logically integrated within a single RANnode. A disaggregated base station may be configured to utilize aprotocol stack that is physically or logically distributed among two ormore units (such as one or more central or centralized units (CUs), oneor more distributed units (DUs), or one or more radio units (RUs)). Insome aspects, a CU may be implemented within a RAN node, and one or moreDUs may be co-located with the CU, or alternatively, may begeographically or virtually distributed throughout one or multiple otherRAN nodes. The DUs may be implemented to communicate with one or moreRUs. Each of the CU, DU and RU can be implemented as virtual units,i.e., a virtual central unit (VCU), a virtual distributed unit (VDU), ora virtual radio unit (VRU).

Base station operation or network design may consider aggregationcharacteristics of base station functionality. For example,disaggregated base stations may be utilized in an integrated accessbackhaul (IAB) network, an open radio access network (O-RAN (such as thenetwork configuration sponsored by the O-RAN Alliance)), or avirtualized radio access network (vRAN, also known as a cloud radioaccess network (C-RAN)). Disaggregation may include distributingfunctionality across two or more units at various physical locations, aswell as distributing functionality for at least one unit virtually,which can enable flexibility in network design. The various units of thedisaggregated base station, or disaggregated RAN architecture, can beconfigured for wired or wireless communication with at least one otherunit.

FIG. 1 is a diagram 100 illustrating an example of a wirelesscommunications system and an access network. The illustrated wirelesscommunications system includes a disaggregated base stationarchitecture. The disaggregated base station architecture may includeone or more CUs 110 that can communicate directly with a core network120 via a backhaul link, or indirectly with the core network 120 throughone or more disaggregated base station units (such as a Near-Real Time(Near-RT) RAN Intelligent Controller (RIC) 125 via an E2 link, or aNon-Real Time (Non-RT) RIC 115 associated with a Service Management andOrchestration (SMO) Framework 105, or both). A CU 110 may communicatewith one or more DUs 130 via respective midhaul links, such as an F1interface. The DUs 130 may communicate with one or more RUs 140 viarespective fronthaul links. The RUs 140 may communicate with respectiveuser equipments (UEs) 104 via one or more radio frequency (RF) accesslinks. In some implementations, the UE 104 may be simultaneously servedby multiple RUs 140.

Each of the units, i.e., the CUs 110, the DUs 130, the RUs 140, as wellas the Near-RT RICs 125, the Non-RT RICs 115, and the SMO Framework 105,may include one or more interfaces or be coupled to one or moreinterfaces configured to receive or to transmit signals, data, orinformation (collectively, signals) via a wired or wireless transmissionmedium. Each of the units, or an associated processor or controllerproviding instructions to the communication interfaces of the units, canbe configured to communicate with one or more of the other units via thetransmission medium. For example, the units can include a wiredinterface configured to receive or to transmit signals over a wiredtransmission medium to one or more of the other units. Additionally, theunits can include a wireless interface, which may include a receiver, atransmitter, or a transceiver (such as an RF transceiver), configured toreceive or to transmit signals, or both, over a wireless transmissionmedium to one or more of the other units.

In some aspects, the CU 110 may host one or more higher layer controlfunctions. Such control functions can include radio resource control(RRC), packet data convergence protocol (PDCP), service data adaptationprotocol (SDAP), or the like. Each control function can be implementedwith an interface configured to communicate signals with other controlfunctions hosted by the CU 110. The CU 110 may be configured to handleuser plane functionality (i.e., Central Unit-User Plane (CU-UP)),control plane functionality (i.e., Central Unit-Control Plane (CU-CP)),or a combination thereof. In some implementations, the CU 110 can belogically split into one or more CU-UP units and one or more CU-CPunits. The CU-UP unit can communicate bidirectionally with the CU-CPunit via an interface, such as an E1 interface when implemented in anO-RAN configuration. The CU 110 can be implemented to communicate withthe DU 130, as necessary, for network control and signaling.

The DU 130 may correspond to a logical unit that includes one or morebase station functions to control the operation of one or more RUs 140.In some aspects, the DU 130 may host one or more of a radio link control(RLC) layer, a medium access control (MAC) layer, and one or more highphysical (PHY) layers (such as modules for forward error correction(FEC) encoding and decoding, scrambling, modulation, demodulation, orthe like) depending, at least in part, on a functional split, such asthose defined by 3GPP. In some aspects, the DU 130 may further host oneor more low PHY layers. Each layer (or module) can be implemented withan interface configured to communicate signals with other layers (andmodules) hosted by the DU 130, or with the control functions hosted bythe CU 110.

Lower-layer functionality can be implemented by one or more RUs 140. Insome deployments, an RU 140, controlled by a DU 130, may correspond to alogical node that hosts RF processing functions, or low-PHY layerfunctions (such as performing fast Fourier transform (FFT), inverse FFT(iFFT), digital beamforming, physical random access channel (PRACH)extraction and filtering, or the like), or both, based at least in parton the functional split, such as a lower layer functional split. In suchan architecture, the RU(s) 140 can be implemented to handle over the air(OTA) communication with one or more UEs 104. In some implementations,real-time and non-real-time aspects of control and user planecommunication with the RU(s) 140 can be controlled by the correspondingDU 130. In some scenarios, this configuration can enable the DU(s) 130and the CU 110 to be implemented in a cloud-based RAN architecture, suchas a vRAN architecture.

The SMO Framework 105 may be configured to support RAN deployment andprovisioning of non-virtualized and virtualized network elements. Fornon-virtualized network elements, the SMO Framework 105 may beconfigured to support the deployment of dedicated physical resources forRAN coverage requirements that may be managed via an operations andmaintenance interface (such as an O1 interface). For virtualized networkelements, the SMO Framework 105 may be configured to interact with acloud computing platform (such as an open cloud (O-Cloud) 190) toperform network element life cycle management (such as to instantiatevirtualized network elements) via a cloud computing platform interface(such as an O2 interface). Such virtualized network elements caninclude, but are not limited to, CUs 110, DUs 130, RUs 140 and Near-RTRICs 125. In some implementations, the SMO Framework 105 can communicatewith a hardware aspect of a 4G RAN, such as an open eNB (O-eNB) 111, viaan O1 interface. Additionally, in some implementations, the SMOFramework 105 can communicate directly with one or more RUs 140 via anO1 interface. The SMO Framework 105 also may include a Non-RT RIC 115configured to support functionality of the SMO Framework 105.

The Non-RT RIC 115 may be configured to include a logical function thatenables non-real-time control and optimization of RAN elements andresources, artificial intelligence (AI)/machine learning (ML) (AI/ML)workflows including model training and updates, or policy-based guidanceof applications/features in the Near-RT RIC 125. The Non-RT RIC 115 maybe coupled to or communicate with (such as via an A1 interface) theNear-RT RIC 125. The Near-RT RIC 125 may be configured to include alogical function that enables near-real-time control and optimization ofRAN elements and resources via data collection and actions over aninterface (such as via an E2 interface) connecting one or more CUs 110,one or more DUs 130, or both, as well as an O-eNB, with the Near-RT RIC125.

In some implementations, to generate AI/ML models to be deployed in theNear-RT RIC 125, the Non-RT RIC 115 may receive parameters or externalenrichment information from external servers. Such information may beutilized by the Near-RT RIC 125 and may be received at the SMO Framework105 or the Non-RT RIC 115 from non-network data sources or from networkfunctions. In some examples, the Non-RT RIC 115 or the Near-RT RIC 125may be configured to tune RAN behavior or performance. For example, theNon-RT RIC 115 may monitor long-term trends and patterns for performanceand employ AI/ML models to perform corrective actions through the SMOFramework 105 (such as reconfiguration via O1) or via creation of RANmanagement policies (such as A1 policies).

At least one of the CU 110, the DU 130, and the RU 140 may be referredto as a base station 102. Accordingly, a base station 102 may includeone or more of the CU 110, the DU 130, and the RU 140 (each componentindicated with dotted lines to signify that each component may or maynot be included in the base station 102). The base station 102 providesan access point to the core network 120 for a UE 104. The base stations102 may include macrocells (high power cellular base station) and/orsmall cells (low power cellular base station). The small cells includefemtocells, picocells, and microcells. A network that includes bothsmall cell and macrocells may be known as a heterogeneous network. Aheterogeneous network may also include Home Evolved Node Bs (eNBs)(HeNBs), which may provide service to a restricted group known as aclosed subscriber group (CSG). The communication links between the RUs140 and the UEs 104 may include uplink (UL) (also referred to as reverselink) transmissions from a UE 104 to an RU 140 and/or downlink (DL)(also referred to as forward link) transmissions from an RU 140 to a UE104. The communication links may use multiple-input and multiple-output(MIMO) antenna technology, including spatial multiplexing, beamforming,and/or transmit diversity. The communication links may be through one ormore carriers. The base stations 102/UEs 104 may use spectrum up to YMHz (e.g., 5, 10, 15, 20, 100, 400, etc. MHz) bandwidth per carrierallocated in a carrier aggregation of up to a total of Yx MHz (xcomponent carriers) used for transmission in each direction. Thecarriers may or may not be adjacent to each other. Allocation ofcarriers may be asymmetric with respect to DL and UL (e.g., more orfewer carriers may be allocated for DL than for UL). The componentcarriers may include a primary component carrier and one or moresecondary component carriers. A primary component carrier may bereferred to as a primary cell (PCell) and a secondary component carriermay be referred to as a secondary cell (SCell).

Certain UEs 104 may communicate with each other using device-to-device(D2D) communication link 158. The D2D communication link 158 may use theDL/UL wireless wide area network (WWAN) spectrum. The D2D communicationlink 158 may use one or more sidelink channels, such as a physicalsidelink broadcast channel (PSBCH), a physical sidelink discoverychannel (PSDCH), a physical sidelink shared channel (PSSCH), and aphysical sidelink control channel (PSCCH). D2D communication may bethrough a variety of wireless D2D communications systems, such as forexample, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi based on the Institute of Electrical andElectronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 standard, LTE, or NR.

The wireless communications system may further include a Wi-Fi AP 150 incommunication with UEs 104 (also referred to as Wi-Fi stations (STAs))via communication link 154, e.g., in a 5 GHz unlicensed frequencyspectrum or the like. When communicating in an unlicensed frequencyspectrum, the UEs 104/AP 150 may perform a clear channel assessment(CCA) prior to communicating in order to determine whether the channelis available.

The electromagnetic spectrum is often subdivided, based onfrequency/wavelength, into various classes, bands, channels, etc. In 5GNR, two initial operating bands have been identified as frequency rangedesignations FR1 (410 MHz-7.125 GHz) and FR2 (24.25 GHz-52.6 GHz).Although a portion of FR1 is greater than 6 GHz, FR1 is often referredto (interchangeably) as a “sub-6 GHz” band in various documents andarticles. A similar nomenclature issue sometimes occurs with regard toFR2, which is often referred to (interchangeably) as a “millimeter wave”band in documents and articles, despite being different from theextremely high frequency (EHF) band (30 GHz-300 GHz) which is identifiedby the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) as a “millimeterwave” band.

The frequencies between FR1 and FR2 are often referred to as mid-bandfrequencies. Recent 5G NR studies have identified an operating band forthese mid-band frequencies as frequency range designation FR3 (7.125GHz-24.25 GHz). Frequency bands falling within FR3 may inherit FR1characteristics and/or FR2 characteristics, and thus may effectivelyextend features of FR1 and/or FR2 into mid-band frequencies. Inaddition, higher frequency bands are currently being explored to extend5G NR operation beyond 52.6 GHz. For example, three higher operatingbands have been identified as frequency range designations FR2-2 (52.6GHz-71 GHz), FR4 (71 GHz-114.25 GHz), and FR5 (114.25 GHz-300 GHz). Eachof these higher frequency bands falls within the EHF band.

With the above aspects in mind, unless specifically stated otherwise,the term “sub-6 GHz” or the like if used herein may broadly representfrequencies that may be less than 6 GHz, may be within FR1, or mayinclude mid-band frequencies. Further, unless specifically statedotherwise, the term “millimeter wave” or the like if used herein maybroadly represent frequencies that may include mid-band frequencies, maybe within FR2, FR4, FR2-2, and/or FR5, or may be within the EHF band.

The base station 102 and the UE 104 may each include a plurality ofantennas, such as antenna elements, antenna panels, and/or antennaarrays to facilitate beamforming. The base station 102 may transmit abeamformed signal 182 to the UE 104 in one or more transmit directions.The UE 104 may receive the beamformed signal from the base station 102in one or more receive directions. The UE 104 may also transmit abeamformed signal 184 to the base station 102 in one or more transmitdirections. The base station 102 may receive the beamformed signal fromthe UE 104 in one or more receive directions. The base station 102/UE104 may perform beam training to determine the best receive and transmitdirections for each of the base station 102/UE 104. The transmit andreceive directions for the base station 102 may or may not be the same.The transmit and receive directions for the UE 104 may or may not be thesame.

The base station 102 may include and/or be referred to as a gNB, Node B,eNB, an access point, a base transceiver station, a radio base station,a radio transceiver, a transceiver function, a basic service set (BSS),an extended service set (ESS), a transmit reception point (TRP), networknode, network entity, network equipment, or some other suitableterminology. The base station 102 can be implemented as an integratedaccess and backhaul (IAB) node, a relay node, a sidelink node, anaggregated (monolithic) base station with a baseband unit (BBU)(including a CU and a DU) and an RU, or as a disaggregated base stationincluding one or more of a CU, a DU, and/or an RU. The set of basestations, which may include disaggregated base stations and/oraggregated base stations, may be referred to as next generation (NG) RAN(NG-RAN).

The core network 120 may include an Access and Mobility ManagementFunction (AMF) 161, a Session Management Function (SMF) 162, a UserPlane Function (UPF) 163, a Unified Data Management (UDM) 164, one ormore location servers 168, and other functional entities. The AMF 161 isthe control node that processes the signaling between the UEs 104 andthe core network 120. The AMF 161 supports registration management,connection management, mobility management, and other functions. The SMF162 supports session management and other functions. The UPF 163supports packet routing, packet forwarding, and other functions. The UDM164 supports the generation of authentication and key agreement (AKA)credentials, user identification handling, access authorization, andsubscription management. The one or more location servers 168 areillustrated as including a Gateway Mobile Location Center (GMLC) 165 anda Location Management Function (LMF) 166. However, generally, the one ormore location servers 168 may include one or more location/positioningservers, which may include one or more of the GMLC 165, the LMF 166, aposition determination entity (PDE), a serving mobile location center(SMLC), a mobile positioning center (MPC), or the like. The GMLC 165 andthe LMF 166 support UE location services. The GMLC 165 provides aninterface for clients/applications (e.g., emergency services) foraccessing UE positioning information. The LMF 166 receives measurementsand assistance information from the NG-RAN and the UE 104 via the AMF161 to compute the position of the UE 104. The NG-RAN may utilize one ormore positioning methods in order to determine the position of the UE104. Positioning the UE 104 may involve signal measurements, a positionestimate, and an optional velocity computation based on themeasurements. The signal measurements may be made by the UE 104 and/orthe serving base station 102. The signals measured may be based on oneor more of a satellite positioning system (SPS) 170 (e.g., one or moreof a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), global position system(GPS), non-terrestrial network (NTN), or other satelliteposition/location system), LTE signals, wireless local area network(WLAN) signals, Bluetooth signals, a terrestrial beacon system (TBS),sensor-based information (e.g., barometric pressure sensor, motionsensor), NR enhanced cell ID (NR E-CID) methods, NR signals (e.g.,multi-round trip time (Multi-RTT), DL angle-of-departure (DL-AoD), DLtime difference of arrival (DL-TDOA), UL time difference of arrival(UL-TDOA), and UL angle-of-arrival (UL-AoA) positioning), and/or othersystems/signals/sensors.

Examples of UEs 104 include a cellular phone, a smart phone, a sessioninitiation protocol (SIP) phone, a laptop, a personal digital assistant(PDA), a satellite radio, a global positioning system, a multimediadevice, a video device, a digital audio player (e.g., MP3 player), acamera, a game console, a tablet, a smart device, a wearable device, avehicle, an electric meter, a gas pump, a large or small kitchenappliance, a healthcare device, an implant, a sensor/actuator, adisplay, or any other similar functioning device. Some of the UEs 104may be referred to as IoT devices (e.g., parking meter, gas pump,toaster, vehicles, heart monitor, etc.). The UE 104 may also be referredto as a station, a mobile station, a subscriber station, a mobile unit,a subscriber unit, a wireless unit, a remote unit, a mobile device, awireless device, a wireless communications device, a remote device, amobile subscriber station, an access terminal, a mobile terminal, awireless terminal, a remote terminal, a handset, a user agent, a mobileclient, a client, or some other suitable terminology. In some scenarios,the term UE may also apply to one or more companion devices such as in adevice constellation arrangement. One or more of these devices maycollectively access the network and/or individually access the network.

Referring again to FIG. 1 , in certain aspects, the UE 104 may include areceive (Rx) frequency dependence measurement component 198 configuredto receive an allocation of one or more zero power slots from a networkentity, the one or more zero power (ZP) slots corresponding to one ormore transmission gaps associated with the network entity; detect noiseenergy in the one or more ZP slots corresponding to the one or moretransmission gaps associated with the network entity; and measure thenoise energy detected in the one or more ZP slots, the measured noiseenergy in the one or more ZP slots corresponding to a frequencydependence of an Rx signal at the UE. In certain aspects, the basestation 102 or a network entity of the base station 102 may include azero power slot allocation component 199 configured to transmit anallocation of one or more ZP slots to at least one UE, the one or moreZP slots corresponding to one or more transmission gaps associated withthe network entity; and receive a report of a first measurement thatcorresponds to a frequency dependence of an Rx signal at the at leastone UE and a second measurement that corresponds to a combined frequencydependence of a transmit (Tx) signal of the network entity and the Rxsignal at the at least one UE, the first measurement associated withnoise energy in the one or more ZP slots corresponding to the one ormore transmission gaps associated with the network entity. Although thefollowing description may be focused on 5G NR, the concepts describedherein may be applicable to other similar areas, such as LTE, LTE-A,CDMA, GSM, and other wireless technologies.

FIG. 2A is a diagram 200 illustrating an example of a first subframewithin a 5G NR frame structure. FIG. 2B is a diagram 230 illustrating anexample of DL channels within a 5G NR subframe. FIG. 2C is a diagram 250illustrating an example of a second subframe within a 5G NR framestructure. FIG. 2D is a diagram 280 illustrating an example of ULchannels within a 5G NR subframe. The 5G NR frame structure may befrequency division duplexed (FDD) in which for a particular set ofsubcarriers (carrier system bandwidth), subframes within the set ofsubcarriers are dedicated for either DL or UL, or may be time divisionduplexed (TDD) in which for a particular set of subcarriers (carriersystem bandwidth), subframes within the set of subcarriers are dedicatedfor both DL and UL. In the examples provided by FIGS. 2A, 2C, the 5G NRframe structure is assumed to be TDD, with subframe 4 being configuredwith slot format 28 (with mostly DL), where D is DL, U is UL, and F isflexible for use between DL/UL, and subframe 3 being configured withslot format 1 (with all UL). While subframes 3, 4 are shown with slotformats 1, 28, respectively, any particular subframe may be configuredwith any of the various available slot formats 0-61. Slot formats 0, 1are all DL, UL, respectively. Other slot formats 2-61 include a mix ofDL, UL, and flexible symbols. UEs are configured with the slot format(dynamically through DL control information (DCI), orsemi-statically/statically through radio resource control (RRC)signaling) through a received slot format indicator (SFI). Note that thedescription infra applies also to a 5G NR frame structure that is TDD.

FIGS. 2A-2D illustrate a frame structure, and the aspects of the presentdisclosure may be applicable to other wireless communicationtechnologies, which may have a different frame structure and/ordifferent channels. A frame (10 ms) may be divided into 10 equally sizedsubframes (1 ms). Each subframe may include one or more time slots.Subframes may also include mini-slots, which may include 7, 4, or 2symbols. Each slot may include 14 or 12 symbols, depending on whetherthe cyclic prefix (CP) is normal or extended. For normal CP, each slotmay include 14 symbols, and for extended CP, each slot may include 12symbols. The symbols on DL may be CP orthogonal frequency divisionmultiplexing (OFDM) (CP-OFDM) symbols. The symbols on UL may be CP-OFDMsymbols (for high throughput scenarios) or discrete Fourier transform(DFT) spread OFDM (DFT-s-OFDM) symbols (also referred to as singlecarrier frequency-division multiple access (SC-FDMA) symbols) (for powerlimited scenarios; limited to a single stream transmission). The numberof slots within a subframe is based on the CP and the numerology. Thenumerology defines the subcarrier spacing (SCS) and, effectively, thesymbol length/duration, which is equal to 1/SCS.

SCS μ Δf = 2^(μ) · 15[kHz] Cyclic prefix 0 15 Normal 1 30 Normal 2 60Normal, Extended 3 120 Normal 4 240 Normal

For normal CP (14 symbols/slot), different numerologies μ 0 to 4 allowfor 1, 2, 4, 8, and 16 slots, respectively, per subframe. For extendedCP, the numerology 2 allows for 4 slots per subframe. Accordingly, fornormal CP and numerology μ, there are 14 symbols/slot and 2^(μ)slots/subframe. The subcarrier spacing may be equal to 2^(μ)*15 kHz,where μ is the numerology 0 to 4. As such, the numerology μ=0 has asubcarrier spacing of 15 kHz and the numerology μ=4 has a subcarrierspacing of 240 kHz. The symbol length/duration is inversely related tothe subcarrier spacing. FIGS. 2A-2D provide an example of normal CP with14 symbols per slot and numerology μ=2 with 4 slots per subframe. Theslot duration is 0.25 ms, the subcarrier spacing is 60 kHz, and thesymbol duration is approximately 16.67 μs. Within a set of frames, theremay be one or more different bandwidth parts (BWPs) (see FIG. 2B) thatare frequency division multiplexed. Each BWP may have a particularnumerology and CP (normal or extended).

A resource grid may be used to represent the frame structure. Each timeslot includes a resource block (RB) (also referred to as physical RBs(PRBs)) that extends 12 consecutive subcarriers. The resource grid isdivided into multiple resource elements (REs). The number of bitscarried by each RE depends on the modulation scheme.

As illustrated in FIG. 2A, some of the REs carry reference (pilot)signals (RS) for the UE. The RS may include demodulation RS (DM-RS)(indicated as R for one particular configuration, but other DM-RSconfigurations are possible) and channel state information referencesignals (CSI-RS) for channel estimation at the UE. The RS may alsoinclude beam measurement RS (BRS), beam refinement RS (BRRS), and phasetracking RS (PT-RS).

FIG. 2B illustrates an example of various DL channels within a subframeof a frame. The physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) carries DCIwithin one or more control channel elements (CCEs) (e.g., 1, 2, 4, 8, or16 CCEs), each CCE including six RE groups (REGs), each REG including 12consecutive REs in an OFDM symbol of an RB. A PDCCH within one BWP maybe referred to as a control resource set (CORESET). A UE is configuredto monitor PDCCH candidates in a PDCCH search space (e.g., common searchspace, UE-specific search space) during PDCCH monitoring occasions onthe CORESET, where the PDCCH candidates have different DCI formats anddifferent aggregation levels. Additional BWPs may be located at greaterand/or lower frequencies across the channel bandwidth. A primarysynchronization signal (PSS) may be within symbol 2 of particularsubframes of a frame. The PSS is used by a UE 104 to determinesubframe/symbol timing and a physical layer identity. A secondarysynchronization signal (SSS) may be within symbol 4 of particularsubframes of a frame. The SSS is used by a UE to determine a physicallayer cell identity group number and radio frame timing. Based on thephysical layer identity and the physical layer cell identity groupnumber, the UE can determine a physical cell identifier (PCI). Based onthe PCI, the UE can determine the locations of the DM-RS. The physicalbroadcast channel (PBCH), which carries a master information block(MIB), may be logically grouped with the PSS and SSS to form asynchronization signal (SS)/PBCH block (also referred to as SS block(SSB)). The MIB provides a number of RBs in the system bandwidth and asystem frame number (SFN). The physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH)carries user data, broadcast system information not transmitted throughthe PBCH such as system information blocks (SIBs), and paging messages.

As illustrated in FIG. 2C, some of the REs carry DM-RS (indicated as Rfor one particular configuration, but other DM-RS configurations arepossible) for channel estimation at the base station. The UE maytransmit DM-RS for the physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) and DM-RSfor the physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH). The PUSCH DM-RS may betransmitted in the first one or two symbols of the PUSCH. The PUCCHDM-RS may be transmitted in different configurations depending onwhether short or long PUCCHs are transmitted and depending on theparticular PUCCH format used. The UE may transmit sounding referencesignals (SRS). The SRS may be transmitted in the last symbol of asubframe. The SRS may have a comb structure, and a UE may transmit SRSon one of the combs. The SRS may be used by a base station for channelquality estimation to enable frequency-dependent scheduling on the UL.

FIG. 2D illustrates an example of various UL channels within a subframeof a frame. The PUCCH may be located as indicated in one configuration.The PUCCH carries uplink control information (UCI), such as schedulingrequests, a channel quality indicator (CQI), a precoding matrixindicator (PMI), a rank indicator (RI), and hybrid automatic repeatrequest (HARQ) acknowledgment (ACK) (HARQ-ACK) feedback (i.e., one ormore HARQ ACK bits indicating one or more ACK and/or negative ACK(NACK)). The PUSCH carries data, and may additionally be used to carry abuffer status report (BSR), a power headroom report (PHR), and/or UCI.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a base station 310 in communication with aUE 350 in an access network. In the DL, Internet protocol (IP) packetsmay be provided to a controller/processor 375. The controller/processor375 implements layer 3 and layer 2 functionality. Layer 3 includes aradio resource control (RRC) layer, and layer 2 includes a service dataadaptation protocol (SDAP) layer, a packet data convergence protocol(PDCP) layer, a radio link control (RLC) layer, and a medium accesscontrol (MAC) layer. The controller/processor 375 provides RRC layerfunctionality associated with broadcasting of system information (e.g.,MIB, SIBs), RRC connection control (e.g., RRC connection paging, RRCconnection establishment, RRC connection modification, and RRCconnection release), inter radio access technology (RAT) mobility, andmeasurement configuration for UE measurement reporting; PDCP layerfunctionality associated with header compression/decompression, security(ciphering, deciphering, integrity protection, integrity verification),and handover support functions; RLC layer functionality associated withthe transfer of upper layer packet data units (PDUs), error correctionthrough ARQ, concatenation, segmentation, and reassembly of RLC servicedata units (SDUs), re-segmentation of RLC data PDUs, and reordering ofRLC data PDUs; and MAC layer functionality associated with mappingbetween logical channels and transport channels, multiplexing of MACSDUs onto transport blocks (TBs), demultiplexing of MAC SDUs from TBs,scheduling information reporting, error correction through HARQ,priority handling, and logical channel prioritization.

The transmit (TX) processor 316 and the receive (RX) processor 370implement layer 1 functionality associated with various signalprocessing functions. Layer 1, which includes a physical (PHY) layer,may include error detection on the transport channels, forward errorcorrection (FEC) coding/decoding of the transport channels,interleaving, rate matching, mapping onto physical channels,modulation/demodulation of physical channels, and MIMO antennaprocessing. The TX processor 316 handles mapping to signalconstellations based on various modulation schemes (e.g., binaryphase-shift keying (BPSK), quadrature phase-shift keying (QPSK),M-phase-shift keying (M-PSK), M-quadrature amplitude modulation(M-QAM)). The coded and modulated symbols may then be split intoparallel streams. Each stream may then be mapped to an OFDM subcarrier,multiplexed with a reference signal (e.g., pilot) in the time and/orfrequency domain, and then combined together using an Inverse FastFourier Transform (IFFT) to produce a physical channel carrying a timedomain OFDM symbol stream. The OFDM stream is spatially precoded toproduce multiple spatial streams. Channel estimates from a channelestimator 374 may be used to determine the coding and modulation scheme,as well as for spatial processing. The channel estimate may be derivedfrom a reference signal and/or channel condition feedback transmitted bythe UE 350. Each spatial stream may then be provided to a differentantenna 320 via a separate transmitter 318Tx. Each transmitter 318Tx maymodulate a radio frequency (RF) carrier with a respective spatial streamfor transmission.

At the UE 350, each receiver 354Rx receives a signal through itsrespective antenna 352. Each receiver 354Rx recovers informationmodulated onto an RF carrier and provides the information to the receive(RX) processor 356. The TX processor 368 and the RX processor 356implement layer 1 functionality associated with various signalprocessing functions. The RX processor 356 may perform spatialprocessing on the information to recover any spatial streams destinedfor the UE 350. If multiple spatial streams are destined for the UE 350,they may be combined by the RX processor 356 into a single OFDM symbolstream. The RX processor 356 then converts the OFDM symbol stream fromthe time-domain to the frequency domain using a Fast Fourier Transform(FFT). The frequency domain signal comprises a separate OFDM symbolstream for each subcarrier of the OFDM signal. The symbols on eachsubcarrier, and the reference signal, are recovered and demodulated bydetermining the most likely signal constellation points transmitted bythe base station 310. These soft decisions may be based on channelestimates computed by the channel estimator 358. The soft decisions arethen decoded and deinterleaved to recover the data and control signalsthat were originally transmitted by the base station 310 on the physicalchannel. The data and control signals are then provided to thecontroller/processor 359, which implements layer 3 and layer 2functionality.

The controller/processor 359 can be associated with a memory 360 thatstores program codes and data. The memory 360 may be referred to as acomputer-readable medium. In the UL, the controller/processor 359provides demultiplexing between transport and logical channels, packetreassembly, deciphering, header decompression, and control signalprocessing to recover IP packets. The controller/processor 359 is alsoresponsible for error detection using an ACK and/or NACK protocol tosupport HARQ operations.

Similar to the functionality described in connection with the DLtransmission by the base station 310, the controller/processor 359provides RRC layer functionality associated with system information(e.g., MIB, SIBs) acquisition, RRC connections, and measurementreporting; PDCP layer functionality associated with headercompression/decompression, and security (ciphering, deciphering,integrity protection, integrity verification); RLC layer functionalityassociated with the transfer of upper layer PDUs, error correctionthrough ARQ, concatenation, segmentation, and reassembly of RLC SDUs,re-segmentation of RLC data PDUs, and reordering of RLC data PDUs; andMAC layer functionality associated with mapping between logical channelsand transport channels, multiplexing of MAC SDUs onto TBs,demultiplexing of MAC SDUs from TBs, scheduling information reporting,error correction through HARQ, priority handling, and logical channelprioritization.

Channel estimates derived by a channel estimator 358 from a referencesignal or feedback transmitted by the base station 310 may be used bythe TX processor 368 to select the appropriate coding and modulationschemes, and to facilitate spatial processing. The spatial streamsgenerated by the TX processor 368 may be provided to different antenna352 via separate transmitters 354Tx. Each transmitter 354Tx may modulatean RF carrier with a respective spatial stream for transmission.

The UL transmission is processed at the base station 310 in a mannersimilar to that described in connection with the receiver function atthe UE 350. Each receiver 318Rx receives a signal through its respectiveantenna 320. Each receiver 318Rx recovers information modulated onto anRF carrier and provides the information to a RX processor 370.

The controller/processor 375 can be associated with a memory 376 thatstores program codes and data. The memory 376 may be referred to as acomputer-readable medium. In the UL, the controller/processor 375provides demultiplexing between transport and logical channels, packetreassembly, deciphering, header decompression, control signal processingto recover IP packets. The controller/processor 375 is also responsiblefor error detection using an ACK and/or NACK protocol to support HARQoperations.

At least one of the TX processor 368, the RX processor 356, and thecontroller/processor 359 may be configured to perform aspects inconnection with the Rx frequency dependence measurement component 198 ofFIG. 1 .

At least one of the TX processor 316, the RX processor 370, and thecontroller/processor 375 may be configured to perform aspects inconnection with the zero power slot allocation component 199 of FIG. 1 .

Wireless communication systems may be configured to share availablesystem resources and provide various telecommunication services (e.g.,telephony, video, data, messaging, broadcasts, etc.) based onmultiple-access technologies such as CDMA systems, TDMA systems, FDMAsystems, OFDMA systems, SC-FDMA systems, TD-SCDMA systems, etc. thatsupport communication with multiple users. In many cases, commonprotocols that facilitate communications with wireless devices areadopted in various telecommunication standards. For example,communication methods associated with eMBB, mMTC, and ultra-reliable lowlatency communication (URLLC) may be incorporated in the 5G NRtelecommunication standard, while other aspects may be incorporated inthe 4G LTE standard. As mobile broadband technologies are part of acontinuous evolution, further improvements in mobile broadband remainuseful to continue the progression of such technologies.

FIG. 4 is a call flow diagram 400 illustrating communications between aUE 402 and a network entity 404. The network entity 404 may correspondto a base station or an entity at a base station, such as a CU, a DU, anRU, etc. At 406, the network entity 404 may transmit an allocation ofzero power slots to one or more UEs, such as the UE 402. The allocationtransmitted, at 406, may be a network-wide allocation of zero powerslots for the one or more UEs associated with the network entity 404. Inexamples, the allocation transmitted, at 406, may correspond to anadjustment/update to a previous allocation of zero power slots by thenetwork entity 404.

“Zero power slot” refers to a slot where a transmitter, such as thenetwork entity 404, does not transmit signaling (e.g., silent slot). Forexample, a zero power slot may correspond to a slot where the networkindicates that no transmissions will be performed by network entitiesoperating in associated frequency bands, which may allow formeasurements to be performed of the background noise. A full silent slotmay be used for background noise measurements, since the noise energymay be low and an averaging techniques may be performed to moreaccurately measure the noise energy and the associated frequencydependence. Thus, noise energy (e.g., generated at a receiver, such asthe UE 402) may be detected during time intervals of the zero powerslots without detection of transmitter signaling. For example, the UE402 may detect noise energy, at 408, during the zero power slotsallocated, at 406. The noise energy may be generated, in some cases, ata low-noise amplifier (LNA) of the UE 402. The UE 402 may measure, at410, the noise energy in the zero power slots (e.g., free of signalingfrom the network entity 404) to determine an Rx frequency dependence atthe UE 402 based on the measured noise energy.

The network entity 404 may transmit, at 412 a, Tx signaling to the UE402 in a non-zero power slot(s), such that the UE 402 may determine atotal frequency dependence of received signaling based on a combinationof the noise energy detected, at 412 b, together with the Tx signalingreceived, at 412 a, from the network entity 404 in the non-zero powerslot(s). For example, the UE 402 may measure, at 414, the noise energytogether with the Tx signaling in the non-zero power slot(s).

At 416, the UE 402 may transmit a UE report to the network entity 404.The UE report may be indicative of the measurements performed, at 410and 414, by the UE 402. For example, the UE report may be indicative ofan Rx frequency dependence determined based on the measurementperformed, at 410, of the noise energy in the zero power slots andindicative of a total frequency dependence based on the noise energymeasured, at 414, together with the Tx signaling in the non-zero powerslot(s). The Tx frequency dependence may be determined by the networkentity 404 and/or the UE 402 based on subtracting the Rx frequencydependence indicated in the UE report from the total frequencydependence also indicated in the UE report.

At 418, the network entity 404 may apply a pre-compensation to furtherTx signaling based on the UE report received, at 416, from the UE 402.For example, the network entity 404 may transmit compensated Txsignal(s) to the UE 402. In some configurations, the network entity 404may receive, at 420, additional UE report(s) from one or more additionalUEs. At 422, the network entity 404 may apply the pre-compensation tothe further Tx signaling based on the additional UE report(s) received,at 420, from the one or more additional UEs. Thus, the network entity404 may transmit compensated Tx signal(s) to the UE 402 based on afederated UE reporting approach.

FIG. 5 illustrates a diagram 500 indicative of Tx/Rx frequencydependence. “Frequency dependence” refers to a rate at which anamplitude of a signal pulse decays. For example, the frequencydependence may correspond to a difference at a top/amplitude of thesignal pulse between a start of the top/amplitude of the signal pulseand an end of the top/amplitude of the signal pulse. A ripple at thetop/amplitude of the signal pulse may be associated with the frequencydependence. The frequency dependence may be used to characterize aspectsof analog Tx/Rx chains associated with a filter.

Degradations in radio frequency integrated circuits (RFICs) used forwireless communication may be difficult for UEs and other networkentities to measure. For example, the Tx frequency dependence and the Rxfrequency dependence may not be separable in some cases based on certaintechniques. While a total frequency dependence of an overall signal maybe measured by the UE to determine the frequency dependence associatedwith a link between the UE and the base station, the UE may not be ableto separately determine, from the total frequency dependence, a firstportion of the total frequency dependence associated with a Tx signal504 and a second portion of the total frequency dependence associatedwith an Rx signal 506. For instance, the UE may estimate the channelbased on an overall signal that includes a relatively flattop/amplitude, but the UE may be unable to separately estimate thecontributions of the Tx signal 504 and the Rx signal 506 on the overallsignal.

Degradations, such as filter droop, may be based on different aspects atthe Tx signal 504 and the Rx signal 506. Both Tx degradations and Rxdegradations may impact the overall signal communicated between the basestation and the UE. Thus, if the UE is configured to separate the Txcharacteristics from the Rx characteristics that contribute to the totalfrequency dependence of the overall signal, the UE may indicate the Txcharacteristics/Tx frequency dependence to the base station, so that thebase station may perform a pre-compensation technique for the Txfrequency dependence on subsequently transmitted signals. Zero powerslots may be used by the UE to isolate, measure, and/or determine the Rxfrequency dependence, which may be subtracted from a total signalfrequency dependence measured at the Rx side to determine the Txfrequency dependence and provide a separation of variables forcorrections/adjustments to the Tx signal 504.

In a first aspect, the combined signal communicated between the basestation and the UE may include Tx frequency dependence withoutsignificant Rx frequency dependence (e.g., no Rx frequency dependence).The signal may be generated in a digital domain 502, but may beconverted to an along domain for transmission of the Tx signal 504 by atransmitter, such as a transmitter associated with a base station. TheTx signal 504 may be received by a receiver, such as a receiver of theUE, and may include analog signal frequency dependence. The analogsignal frequency dependence may correspond to a pattern/shape that oneor more RF filters may have imprinted on the Tx/Rx signals 504-506. TheUE may receive the transmitted signal via the receiver as an Rx signal506 along with a certain amount of noise energy 508 (e.g., flat noise)that may be added to the Rx signal 506 to include the overall signal.Hence, the Rx signal 506 received at the UE may include a certainsignal-to-noise (SNR) 510, which may impact the edges of the signal andmay be referred to as signal “droop”. For example, the edges of thesignal may be lower as a result of the SNR 510. The signal droop maycause a range of the signal to be reduced and may be based oncharacteristics of a Tx beam.

In a second aspect, the combined signal communicated between the basestation and the UE may include Rx frequency dependence withoutsignificant Tx frequency dependence (e.g., no Tx frequency dependence).For instance, Tx circuits at the base station may be calibrated, suchthat little or no Tx frequency dependence is included in the Tx signal504. The signal may be generated in the digital domain 502, but may beconverted to the along domain for transmission of the Tx signal 504 by atransmitter, such as a transmitter associated with the base station. Thegenerated signal may be passed through one or more analog filters priorto transmission of the Tx signal 504 by the transmitter, where the Txsignal 504 may not include a resulting Tx frequency dependence from theone or more analog filters at the base station. However, the noiseenergy 508 added to the Rx signal 506 at the receiver, such as areceiver of the UE, may generate Rx frequency dependence/signal droop atthe UE.

The noise energy 508 generated at the receiver may pass through the sameRx circuit that the Rx signal 506 is passed through. Thus,characteristics of the noise energy 508 may be impacted by the Rxcircuit in a same way that characteristics of the Rx signal 506 isimpacted by the Rx circuits. As such, the SNR 510 may not be impacted bycharacteristics of the Rx circuit (e.g., flat SNR). The noise energy 508may be reduced and attenuated at the edges of the overall signal in thesame way that the Rx signal 506 is attenuated. That is, the Rx signal506 may be replicated based on increasing a gain of the noise energy 508and may include a same SNR 510, which may again have a reduced rangebased on the Rx frequency dependence/signal droop.

In a third aspect, the combined signal communicated between the basestation and the UE may include a combined frequency dependence (e.g., Txfrequency dependence and Rx frequency dependence). That is, the combinedsignal received at the receiver may include both a Tx frequencydependence generated via the transmitter and an Rx frequency dependencegenerated via the receiver. The signal may be generated at the Tx sideof the communication in the digital domain 502, but may be converted tothe along domain for transmission of the Tx signal 504 by thetransmitter. The transmitted signal may be received as an Rx signal 506at a receiver, along with generated noise energy 508, before beingpassed through the Rx circuit at the Rx side of the communication. Thenoise energy 508 may be added to the Rx signal 506 at the Rx side of thecommunication. Hence, the frequency dependence generated by the noisemay not originate at the Tx side of the communication. In an example,the frequency dependence associated with the noise may correspond toone-quarter of the total signal frequency dependence. The SNR 510 may bethe same SNR 510 as associated with the Tx frequency dependence. Areduced range of the signal may be based on one or more Tx beams. The UEmay have to separate the noise energy 508 from the combined signal inorder to determine/estimate the Tx frequency dependence of the Tx signal504.

FIG. 6 illustrates a diagram 600 of Tx/Rx analog circuits. A signal maybe generated at a Tx device in the digital domain and input to adigital-to-analog converter 602. An output of the digital-to-analogconverter 602 may not be identical to the input of the digital-to-analogconverter 602 characterized in the digital domain. For instance, theoutput in the analog domain may include a shape to the signal that wasnot part of the input signal in the digital domain. The shape may beimprinted on the signal that is output from the digital-to-analogconverter 602. The output may be received by an intermediate frequency(IF) filter 604, which may be configured to apply a compensation to theshape of the output analog signal.

The compensated signal may be received by a mixer 606, which may have anoutput/response to the compensated signal that is not flat at thetop/amplitude of the signal. For example, the signal may looselyresemble a square wave, where the top/amplitude of the signal mayinclude a ripple, rather than being flat. The shape of the ripple may bebased on a bandwidth associated with the mixer 606. The output/responseof the mixer 606 may be passed through a diode, such as an LNA 608, andprovided to an RF filter 610, which may further provide the signal to aTx antenna 612 that transmits the signal. The Tx frequency dependencemay be included in the transmitted signal, as the ripple may beimprinted on the signal provided to the Tx antenna 612.

The signal transmitted from the Tx device may be received at an Rxantenna 614 of an Rx device, which may determine a frequency dependenceof an overall signal at the Rx device. The overall frequency dependenceof the signal may include the Tx frequency dependence plus the Rxfrequency dependence caused by noise energy. In some examples, the Rxdevice may determine the Rx frequency dependence based on a zero powerslot. Zero power slots are slots where Tx devices do not transmitsignaling. Thus, signals received at the Rx antenna 614 of the Rx deviceduring zero power slots may correspond to noise energy generated at theRx device, such as at an LNA 618. Rx chain amplification may be adjustedto a highest level of the amplifier for determining the noise frequencydependence at the Rx device.

Signaling received by the Rx antenna 614 of the Rx device may beprovided to an RF filter 616. In cases where the received signalcorresponds to noise energy plus the transmitted signal from the Txdevice, the RF filter 616 may be used to remove characteristicsassociated with noise energy. The received signal may be provided fromthe RF filter 616 to a diode, such as the LNA 618, which may furtherprovide the received signal to a mixer 620. The mixer 620 at the Rxdevice may have an output/response to the received signal that is notflat at the top/amplitude of the received signal. For instance, theoutput/response may loosely resemble a square wave, where thetop/amplitude of the output/response may include a ripple. An IF filter622 that receives the output/response of the mixer 620 may apply acompensation to a shape of the ripple, but the Rx frequency dependencemay still be imprinted on an input to an analog-to-digital converter624.

If the UE is unable to determine a combined shape associated with the Txfrequency dependence and the Rx frequency dependence, compensationtechniques may result in overcompensation of the received signal.However, if the Rx frequency dependence is compensated in cases withoutthe Tx frequency dependence, overcompensation may not occur, as the SNRmay not be impacted by the shape associated with the Rx frequencydependence. Instead, the SNR may be impacted based on the shapeassociated with the Tx frequency dependence, which may be included inthe combined signal/combined frequency dependence of the receivedsignal. In order to determine the shape associated with the Tx frequencydependence, the UE may be configured to separate the combined signalinto a Tx portion and an Rx portion.

When the Tx device is not transmitting a signal, energy received at theRx antenna 614 of the Rx device may correspond to noise energy. Thus, anoutput of the Rx device in the digital domain from the analog-to-digitalconverter 624 may correspond to the noise energy without the addition ofTx signaling. The shape imprinted on the noise energy by the Rx circuitat the Rx device would be a same shape imprinted on a signal receivedfrom the transmitter. Thus, the Rx device may measure characteristics ofthe noise energy to determine a shape of the Rx frequency dependencecaused by the RF filter 616, the mixer 620, power amplifiers, etc. TheRx frequency dependence may be subtracted from the combined frequencydependence to determine the Tx frequency dependence. The Rx device mayindicate/report the determined Tx frequency dependence to the Tx device,such that the Tx device may compensate for the Tx frequency dependencein further Tx signaling.

A base station may allocate one or more zero power slots to a UE, suchthat the UE may determine slots in which the base station is nottransmitting. The zero power slots may correspond to a network-wideallocation of zero power slots (e.g., silent slots) over the wholenetwork at a same time. One or more slots may be used to provide athreshold amount of time for averaging the noise energy and/or toaccumulate enough noise energy to determine the shape of the analogfrequency dependence. Hence, information may be collected and recordedover a plurality of slots in order to determine the analog frequencydependence.

Noise measurement and averaging may be performed on an Rx chain. Basedon the information collected over the plurality of slots, the UE maydetermine the shape that filters, such as the RF filter 616 and/or theIF filter 622, have on the received signal (e.g., based on differentgain settings and/or different beams). Estimation techniques for the Rxfrequency dependence may not be based on a calibration at the Rx device,as some noise characteristics may change based on external factors, suchas temperature, time, device aging, etc. Thus, the UE may have tomeasure the Rx frequency dependence from time-to-time in order toisolate the Tx frequency dependence from the combined signal, which mayinclude the Rx signal plus the noise energy. The UE may indicate thedetermined Tx frequency dependence to the base station, such that thebase station may apply a pre-compensate technique to further Txsignaling. In order to subtract the Rx frequency dependence from thecombined signal, the UE may also have to perform a measurement on thecombined signal/combined frequency dependence, either before or afterdetermining the Rx frequency dependence via a zero power slot.

Zero power slots may be used for Rx radio calibration andcharacterization of the signal received at the Rx antenna 614. The zeropower slots may be periodic, aperiodic, or semi-persistent. The numberof zero power slots may be adjusted for certain procedures, or the zeropower slots may correspond to particular slot pattern determined at theUE. For example, the slot pattern may correspond to 1 zero powerslot/silent slot for every 100 non-zero power slots. The whole zeropower slot may be dedicated as a silent slot. Zero power slots may beassociated with similar characteristics to zero power REs/RBs, zeropower CSI-RS, etc., that may be used to estimate aspects, such asinterference in a cell. However, zero power slots may be different fromsuch aspects in that complete slots may be configured as silent slotsacross a whole network or area. Thus, zero power slot locations may haveto be defined at the core network. Zero power slots may allow averagingand measurement of noise to be performed based on a lack of Tx signalingin the slots across the network, and may also allow for separation ofthe Tx frequency dependence and the Rx frequency dependence from acombined signal for applying a pre-compensation to further Tx signalingat the Tx device.

An Rx device, such as a UE may indicate, to the Tx device, such as abase station, the Tx frequency dependence determined at the Rx device.The Tx device may compensate for the Tx frequency dependence in furtherTx signaling based on the indication received from the Rx device. The Txfrequency dependence may be indicated to the base station (e.g., Txdevice) in a UE report from the UE (e.g., Rx device). The UE report maybe indicative of measurements performed by the UE in the zero powerslots, such as Rx frequency dependence measurements, and/or measurementsperformed by the UE in non-zero power slots, such as combined signalfrequency dependence measurements performed on the Rx signal and thenoise energy detected together at the UE.

The Tx frequency dependence may be pre-compensated at the Tx devicebased on information received from the Rx device. The frequencydependence of the signal may be beam dependent at both the Tx side andthe Rx side of the communication link. That is, different beamcharacteristics may be generated based on different combinations ofanalog chains. The UE may report the Rx frequency dependence to the basestation together with the combined frequency dependence of the signal,where the Tx frequency dependence may be determined based on subtractionof the Rx frequency dependence from the combined frequency dependence ofthe signal. The base station may store UE frequency dependence reportsfrom a plurality of UEs based on a federated approach to estimate the Txfrequency dependence at the base station. After the Tx frequencydependence is determined by the base station based on one or more UEfrequency dependence reports received from one or more UEs, the basestation may apply a compensation for the Tx frequency dependence totransmitted signaling.

UE frequency dependence reports indicative of the combined frequencydependence of the signal, the Rx frequency dependence, the Tx frequencydependence, etc., may be indicative of common RF degradations based onfederated reporting techniques associated with a plurality of UEs. Thebase station may use the federated UE frequency dependence reports todetermine the Tx frequency dependence of the base station and compensatefor the Tx frequency dependence in further transmissions of the basestation. Federate reporting procedures may increase a reliability of Txfrequency dependence determinations at the base station, as a single UEreport may include one or more inaccuracies that may be corrected basedon federated UE reporting approaches. UE frequency dependence reportingmay allow for real-time tracking of Tx frequency dependence at the basestation, such that a performance of the base station may be improvedbased on pre-compensations for the Tx frequency dependence.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart 700 of a method of wireless communication. Themethod may be performed by a UE (e.g., the UE 104, 350, 402, theapparatus 1104, etc.), which may include the memory 360 and which maycorrespond to the entire UE 104, 350, 402 or apparatus 1104, or acomponent of the UE 104, 350, 402 or the apparatus 1104, such as the TXprocessor 368, the RX processor 356, the controller/processor 359, thecellular baseband processor 1124, and/or the application processor 1106.

At 702, the UE may receive an allocation of one or more zero power slotsfrom a network entity—the one or more zero power slots correspond to oneor more transmission gaps associated with the network entity. Forexample, referring to FIG. 4 , the UE 402 may receive, at 406, anallocation of zero power slots from the network entity 404.“Transmission gap” refers to a period of signaling/transmissioninactivity of a transmitter between a completion of a previoustransmission and a start of a next transmission. The reception, at 702,may be performed by the Rx frequency dependence measurement component198 of the apparatus 1104 in FIG. 11 .

At 704, the UE may detect noise energy in the one or more zero powerslots corresponding to the one or more transmission gaps associated withthe network entity. For example, referring to FIGS. 4-6 , the UE 402 maydetect, at 408, noise energy 508 based on the allocation, at 406, of thezero power slots. For example, the UE may detect the noise energy 508 atthe LNA 608 in one or more zero power slots. The detection, at 704, maybe performed by the Rx frequency dependence measurement component 198 ofthe apparatus 1104 in FIG. 11 .

At 706, the UE may measure the noise energy detected in the one or morezero power slots—the measured noise energy in the one or more zero powerslots corresponds to a frequency dependence of an Rx signal at the UE.For example, referring to FIG. 4 , the UE 402 may measure, at 410, thenoise energy in the zero power slots. A measurement of the noise energy508 may be indicative of an Rx frequency dependence associated with theRx signal 506. The measurement, at 706, may be performed by the Rxfrequency dependence measurement component 198 of the apparatus 1104 inFIG. 11 .

FIG. 8 is a flowchart 800 of a method of wireless communication. Themethod may be performed by a UE (e.g., the UE 104, 350, 402, theapparatus 1104, etc.), which may include the memory 360 and which maycorrespond to the entire UE 104, 350, 402 or apparatus 1104, or acomponent of the UE 104, 350, 402 or the apparatus 1104, such as the TXprocessor 368, the RX processor 356, the controller/processor 359, thecellular baseband processor 1124, and/or the application processor 1106.

At 802, the UE may receive an allocation of one or more zero power slotsfrom a network entity—the one or more zero power slots correspond to oneor more transmission gaps associated with the network entity. Forexample, referring to FIG. 4 , the UE 402 may receive, at 406, anallocation of zero power slots from the network entity 404. Thereception, at 802, may be performed by the Rx frequency dependencemeasurement component 198 of the apparatus 1104 in FIG. 11 .

At 804, the UE may detect noise energy in the one or more zero powerslots corresponding to the one or more transmission gaps associated withthe network entity. For example, referring to FIGS. 4-6 , the UE 402 maydetect, at 408, noise energy 508 based on the allocation, at 406, of thezero power slots. For example, the UE may detect the noise energy 508 atthe LNA 608 in one or more zero power slots. The detection, at 804, maybe performed by the Rx frequency dependence measurement component 198 ofthe apparatus 1104 in FIG. 11 .

At 806, the UE may measure the noise energy detected in the one or morezero power slots—the measured noise energy in the one or more zero powerslots corresponds to a frequency dependence of an Rx signal at the UE.For example, referring to FIG. 4 , the UE 402 may measure, at 410, thenoise energy in the zero power slots. A measurement of the noise energy508 may be indicative of an Rx frequency dependence associated with theRx signal 506. The measurement, at 806, may be performed by the Rxfrequency dependence measurement component 198 of the apparatus 1104 inFIG. 11 .

At 808, the UE may receive the noise energy and a Tx signal of thenetwork entity in one or more non-zero power slots. For example,referring to FIG. 4 , the UE 402 may receive, at 412 a, a Tx signal in anon-zero slot from the network entity 404 in addition to receiving thenoise energy, at 412 b. The reception, at 808, may be performed by theRx frequency dependence measurement component 198 of the apparatus 1104in FIG. 11 .

At 810, the UE may measure the noise energy with the Tx signal of thenetwork entity in the one or more non-zero power slots-a secondmeasurement of the noise energy and the Tx signal of the network entityis indicative of a combined frequency dependence of the Tx signal andthe Rx signal. For example, referring to FIG. 4 , the UE 402 maymeasure, at 414, the noise energy and the Tx signal in non-zero powerslots. The measurement, at 810, may be performed by the Rx frequencydependence measurement component 198 of the apparatus 1104 in FIG. 11 .

At 812, the UE may report the measurement indicative of the frequencydependence of the Rx signal and the second measurement indicative of thecombined frequency dependence of the Tx signal and the Rx signal to thenetwork entity. For example, referring to FIG. 4 , the UE 402 maytransmit, at 416, a UE report to the network entity 404. The UE reportmay be indicative of the Rx frequency dependence and a total frequencydependence of the combined signal. The transmission, at 812, may beperformed by the Rx frequency dependence measurement component 198 ofthe apparatus 1104 in FIG. 11 .

FIG. 9 is a flowchart 900 of a method of wireless communication. Themethod may be performed by a network entity or a base station (e.g., thenetwork entity 404, 1102, 1202, the base station 102, 310, the CU 110,the DU 130, the RU 140, etc.), which may include the memory 376 andwhich may correspond to the entire network entity 404, 1102, 1202 orbase station 102, 310, or a component of the network entity 404, 1202 orthe base station 102, 310, such as the CU 110, the DU 130, the RU 140,the TX processor 316, the RX processor 370, and/or thecontroller/processor 375.

At 902, the network entity or the base station may transmit anallocation of one or more zero power slots to at least one UE—the one ormore zero power slots corresponds to one or more transmission gapsassociated with the network entity. For example, referring to FIG. 4 ,the network entity 404 may transmit, at 406, an allocation of zero powerslots to the UE 402. The transmission, at 902, may be performed by thezero power slot allocation component 199 of the network entity 1202 inFIG. 12 .

At 904, the network entity or the base station may receive a report of afirst measurement that corresponds to a frequency dependence of an Rxsignal at the at least one UE and a second measurement that correspondsto a combined frequency dependence of a Tx signal of the network entityand the Rx signal at the at least one UE—the first measurement isassociated with noise energy in the one or more zero power slotscorresponding to the one or more transmission gaps associated with thenetwork entity. For example, referring to FIG. 4 , the network entity404 may receive, at 416, a UE report from the UE 402. The UE report maybe indicative of the Rx frequency dependence and a total frequencydependence of the combined signal. The reception, at 904, may beperformed by the zero power slot allocation component 199 of the networkentity 1202 in FIG. 12 .

FIG. 10 is a flowchart 1000 of a method of wireless communication. Themethod may be performed by a network entity or a base station (e.g., thenetwork entity 404, 1102, 1202, the base station 102, 310, the CU 110,the DU 130, the RU 140, etc.), which may include the memory 376 andwhich may correspond to the entire network entity 404, 1102, 1202 orbase station 102, 310, or a component of the network entity 404, 1202 orthe base station 102, 310, such as the CU 110, the DU 130, the RU 140,the TX processor 316, the RX processor 370, and/or thecontroller/processor 375.

At 1002, the network entity or the base station may transmit anallocation of one or more zero power slots to at least one UE—the one ormore zero power slots corresponds to one or more transmission gapsassociated with the network entity. For example, referring to FIG. 4 ,the network entity 404 may transmit, at 406, an allocation of zero powerslots to the UE 402. The transmission, at 1002, may be performed by thezero power slot allocation component 199 of the network entity 1202 inFIG. 12 .

At 1004, the network entity or the base station may transmit anindication of an adjustment to the allocation of the one or more zeropower slots—the adjustment to the allocation of the one or more zeropower slots is indicative of at least one of: a first change to a numberof slots in the allocation or a second change to a slot patternassociated with the allocation. For example, referring to FIG. 4 , thetransmission, at 406, by the network entity 404 may correspond to anadjustment/update to the allocation of the zero power slots. Thetransmission, at 1004, may be performed by the zero power slotallocation component 199 of the network entity 1202 in FIG. 12 .

At 1006, the network entity or the base station may receive a report ofa first measurement that corresponds to a frequency dependence of an Rxsignal at the at least one UE and a second measurement that correspondsto a combined frequency dependence of a Tx signal of the network entityand the Rx signal at the at least one UE—the first measurement isassociated with noise energy in the one or more zero power slotscorresponding to the one or more transmission gaps associated with thenetwork entity. For example, referring to FIG. 4 , the network entity404 may receive, at 416, a UE report from the UE 402. The UE report maybe indicative of the Rx frequency dependence and a total frequencydependence of the combined signal. The reception, at 1006, may beperformed by the zero power slot allocation component 199 of the networkentity 1202 in FIG. 12 .

At 1008, the network entity or the base station may apply apre-compensation to one or more subsequent Tx signals of the networkentity based on the second frequency dependence of the Tx signal. Forexample, referring to FIG. 4 , the network entity 404 may apply, at 418,a pre-compensation to further Tx signaling based on the UE report (e.g.,indicative of the Rx frequency dependence and the total frequencydependence) received, at 416, from the UE 402. The application, at 1008,may be performed by the zero power slot allocation component 199 of thenetwork entity 1202 in FIG. 12 .

At 1010, the network entity or the base station may receive one or moreadditional reports from a plurality of UEs—the one or more additionalreports are indicative of respective Rx frequency dependencemeasurements and combined frequency dependence measurements of theplurality of UEs. For example, referring to FIG. 4 , the network entity404 may receive, at 420, additional UE report(s) from one or moredifferent UEs than the UE 402. The reception, at 1010, may be performedby the zero power slot allocation component 199 of the network entity1202 in FIG. 12 .

At 1012, the network entity or the base station may apply apre-compensation to one or more subsequent Tx signals of the networkentity based on the one or more additional reports. For example,referring to FIG. 4 , the network entity 404 may apply, at 422, apre-compensation to further Tx signaling based on the additional UEreport(s) received, at 420, from the one or more different UEs than theUE 402. The application, at 1012, may be performed by the zero powerslot allocation component 199 of the network entity 1202 in FIG. 12 .

FIG. 11 is a diagram 1100 illustrating an example of a hardwareimplementation for an apparatus 1104. The apparatus 1104 may be a UE, acomponent of a UE, or may implement UE functionality. In some aspects,the apparatus 1104 may include a cellular baseband processor 1124 (alsoreferred to as a modem) coupled to one or more transceivers 1122 (e.g.,cellular RF transceiver). The cellular baseband processor 1124 mayinclude on-chip memory 1124′. In some aspects, the apparatus 1104 mayfurther include one or more subscriber identity modules (SIM) cards 1120and an application processor 1106 coupled to a secure digital (SD) card1108 and a screen 1110. The application processor 1106 may includeon-chip memory 1106′. In some aspects, the apparatus 1104 may furtherinclude a Bluetooth module 1112, a WLAN module 1114, an SPS module 1116(e.g., GNSS module), one or more sensor modules 1118 (e.g., barometricpressure sensor/altimeter; motion sensor such as inertial managementunit (IMU), gyroscope, and/or accelerometer(s); light detection andranging (LIDAR), radio assisted detection and ranging (RADAR), soundnavigation and ranging (SONAR), magnetometer, audio and/or othertechnologies used for positioning), additional modules of memory 1126, apower supply 1130, and/or a camera 1132. The Bluetooth module 1112, theWLAN module 1114, and the SPS module 1116 may include an on-chiptransceiver (TRX) (or in some cases, just a receiver (RX)). TheBluetooth module 1112, the WLAN module 1114, and the SPS module 1116 mayinclude their own dedicated antennas and/or utilize the antennas 1180for communication. The cellular baseband processor 1124 communicatesthrough the transceiver(s) 1122 via one or more antennas 1180 with theUE 104 and/or with an RU associated with a network entity 1102. Thecellular baseband processor 1124 and the application processor 1106 mayeach include a computer-readable medium/memory 1124′, 1106′,respectively. The additional modules of memory 1126 may also beconsidered a computer-readable medium/memory. Each computer-readablemedium/memory 1124′, 1106′, 1126 may be non-transitory. The cellularbaseband processor 1124 and the application processor 1106 are eachresponsible for general processing, including the execution of softwarestored on the computer-readable medium/memory. The software, whenexecuted by the cellular baseband processor 1124/application processor1106, causes the cellular baseband processor 1124/application processor1106 to perform the various functions described supra. Thecomputer-readable medium/memory may also be used for storing data thatis manipulated by the cellular baseband processor 1124/applicationprocessor 1106 when executing software. The cellular baseband processor1124/application processor 1106 may be a component of the UE 350 and mayinclude the memory 360 and/or at least one of the TX processor 368, theRX processor 356, and the controller/processor 359. In oneconfiguration, the apparatus 1104 may be a processor chip (modem and/orapplication) and include just the cellular baseband processor 1124and/or the application processor 1106, and in another configuration, theapparatus 1104 may be the entire UE (e.g., see 350 of FIG. 3 ) andinclude the additional modules of the apparatus 1104.

As discussed supra, the Rx frequency dependence measurement component198 is configured to receive an allocation of one or more ZP slots froma network entity, the one or more ZP slots corresponding to one or moretransmission gaps associated with the network entity; detect noiseenergy in the one or more ZP slots corresponding to the one or moretransmission gaps associated with the network entity; and measure thenoise energy detected in the one or more ZP slots, the measured noiseenergy in the one or more ZP slots corresponding to a frequencydependence of an Rx signal at the UE. The Rx frequency dependencemeasurement component 198 may be within the cellular baseband processor1124, the application processor 1106, or both the cellular basebandprocessor 1124 and the application processor 1106. The Rx frequencydependence measurement component 198 may be one or more hardwarecomponents specifically configured to carry out the statedprocesses/algorithm, implemented by one or more processors configured toperform the stated processes/algorithm, stored within acomputer-readable medium for implementation by one or more processors,or some combination thereof.

As shown, the apparatus 1104 may include a variety of componentsconfigured for various functions. In one configuration, the apparatus1104, and in particular the cellular baseband processor 1124 and/or theapplication processor 1106, includes means for receiving an allocationof one or more ZP slots from a network entity, the one or more ZP slotscorresponding to one or more transmission gaps associated with thenetwork entity; means for detecting noise energy in the one or more ZPslots corresponding to the one or more transmission gaps associated withthe network entity; and means for measuring the noise energy received inthe one or more ZP slots, the measured noise energy in the one or moreZP slots corresponds to a frequency dependence of an Rx signal at theUE. The means for measuring the noise energy detected in the one or moreZP slots is further configured to average a total noise energy detectedacross the one or more ZP slots. The apparatus 1104 further includesmeans for receiving an indication of an adjustment to the allocation ofthe one or more ZP slots, where the adjustment to the allocation of theone or more ZP slots is indicative of at least one of: a first change toa number of slots in the allocation or a second change to a slot patternassociated with the allocation. The apparatus 1104 further includesmeans for detecting the noise energy and a Tx signal of the networkentity in one or more non-zero power (NZP) slots; means for measuringthe noise energy with the Tx signal of the network entity in the one ormore NZP slots, where a second measurement of the noise energy and theTx signal of the network entity corresponds to a combined frequencydependence of the Tx signal and the Rx signal; and means for reportingthe measurement that corresponds to the frequency dependence of the Rxsignal and the second measurement that corresponds to the combinedfrequency dependence of the Tx signal and the Rx signal to the networkentity.

The means may be the Rx frequency dependence measurement component 198of the apparatus 1104 configured to perform the functions recited by themeans. As described supra, the apparatus 1104 may include the TXprocessor 368, the RX processor 356, and the controller/processor 359.As such, in one configuration, the means may be the TX processor 368,the RX processor 356, and/or the controller/processor 359 configured toperform the functions recited by the means.

FIG. 12 is a diagram 1200 illustrating an example of a hardwareimplementation for a network entity 1202. The network entity 1202 may bea BS, a component of a BS, or may implement BS functionality. Thenetwork entity 1202 may include at least one of a CU 1210, a DU 1230, oran RU 1240. For example, depending on the layer functionality handled bythe zero power slot allocation component 199, the network entity 1202may include the CU 1210; both the CU 1210 and the DU 1230; each of theCU 1210, the DU 1230, and the RU 1240; the DU 1230; both the DU 1230 andthe RU 1240; or the RU 1240. The CU 1210 may include a CU processor1212. The CU processor 1212 may include on-chip memory 1212′. In someaspects, the CU 1210 may further include additional memory modules 1214and a communications interface 1218. The CU 1210 communicates with theDU 1230 through a midhaul link, such as an F1 interface. The DU 1230 mayinclude a DU processor 1232. The DU processor 1232 may include on-chipmemory 1232′. In some aspects, the DU 1230 may further includeadditional memory modules 1234 and a communications interface 1238. TheDU 1230 communicates with the RU 1240 through a fronthaul link. The RU1240 may include an RU processor 1242. The RU processor 1242 may includeon-chip memory 1242′. In some aspects, the RU 1240 may further includeadditional memory modules 1244, one or more transceivers 1246, antennas1280, and a communications interface 1248. The RU 1240 communicates withthe UE 104. The on-chip memory 1212′, 1232′, 1242′ and the additionalmemory modules 1214, 1234, 1244 may each be considered acomputer-readable medium/memory. Each computer-readable medium/memorymay be non-transitory. Each of the processors 1212, 1232, 1242 isresponsible for general processing, including the execution of softwarestored on the computer-readable medium/memory. The software, whenexecuted by the corresponding processor(s) causes the processor(s) toperform the various functions described supra. The computer-readablemedium/memory may also be used for storing data that is manipulated bythe processor(s) when executing software.

As discussed supra, the zero power slot allocation component 199 isconfigured to transmit an allocation of one or more ZP slots to at leastone UE, the one or more ZP slots corresponding to one or moretransmission gaps associated with the network entity; and receive areport of a first measurement indicative of a frequency dependence of anRx signal at the at least one UE and a second measurement indicative ofa combined frequency dependence of a Tx signal of the network entity andthe Rx signal at the at least one UE, the first measurement associatedwith noise energy in the one or more ZP slots corresponding to the oneor more transmission gaps associated with the network entity. The zeropower slot allocation component 199 may be within one or more processorsof one or more of the CU 1210, DU 1230, and the RU 1240. The zero powerslot allocation component 199 may be one or more hardware componentsspecifically configured to carry out the stated processes/algorithm,implemented by one or more processors configured to perform the statedprocesses/algorithm, stored within a computer-readable medium forimplementation by one or more processors, or some combination thereof.

The network entity 1202 may include a variety of components configuredfor various functions. In one configuration, the network entity 1202includes means for transmitting an allocation of one or more ZP slots toat least one UE, the one or more ZP slots corresponding to one or moretransmission gaps associated with the network entity; and means forreceiving a report of a first measurement that corresponds to afrequency dependence of an Rx signal at the at least one UE and a secondmeasurement that corresponds to a combined frequency dependence of a Txsignal of the network entity and the Rx signal at the at least one UE,the first measurement associated with noise energy in the one or more ZPslots corresponding to the one or more transmission gaps associated withthe network entity. The network entity 1202 further includes means fortransmitting an indication of an adjustment to the allocation of the oneor more ZP slots, where the adjustment to the allocation of the one ormore ZP slots is indicative of at least one of: a first change to anumber of slots in the allocation or a second change to a slot patternassociated with the allocation. The network entity 1202 further includesmeans for applying a pre-compensation to one or more subsequent Txsignals of the network entity based on the second frequency dependenceof the Tx signal. The network entity 1202 further includes means forreceiving one or more additional reports from the plurality of UEs, theone or more additional reports indicative of respective Rx frequencydependence measurements and combined frequency dependence measurementsof the plurality of UEs. The network entity 1202 further includes meansfor applying a pre-compensation to one or more subsequent Tx signals ofthe network entity based on the one or more additional reports.

The means may be the zero power slot allocation component 199 of thenetwork entity 1202 configured to perform the functions recited by themeans. As described supra, the network entity 1202 may include the TXprocessor 316, the RX processor 370, and the controller/processor 375.As such, in one configuration, the means may be the TX processor 316,the RX processor 370, and/or the controller/processor 375 configured toperform the functions recited by the means.

It is understood that the specific order or hierarchy of blocks in theprocesses/flowcharts disclosed is an illustration of example approaches.Based upon design preferences, it is understood that the specific orderor hierarchy of blocks in the processes/flowcharts may be rearranged.Further, some blocks may be combined or omitted. The accompanying methodclaims present elements of the various blocks in a sample order, and arenot limited to the specific order or hierarchy presented.

The previous description is provided to enable any person skilled in theart to practice the various aspects described herein. Variousmodifications to these aspects will be readily apparent to those skilledin the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied toother aspects. Thus, the claims are not limited to the aspects describedherein, but are to be accorded the full scope consistent with thelanguage claims. Reference to an element in the singular does not mean“one and only one” unless specifically so stated, but rather “one ormore.” Terms such as “if,” “when,” and “while” do not imply an immediatetemporal relationship or reaction. That is, these phrases, e.g., “when,”do not imply an immediate action in response to or during the occurrenceof an action, but simply imply that if a condition is met then an actionwill occur, but without requiring a specific or immediate timeconstraint for the action to occur. The word “exemplary” is used hereinto mean “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any aspectdescribed herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed aspreferred or advantageous over other aspects. Unless specifically statedotherwise, the term “some” refers to one or more. Combinations such as“at least one of A, B, or C,” “one or more of A, B, or C,” “at least oneof A, B, and C,” “one or more of A, B, and C,” and “A, B, C, or anycombination thereof” include any combination of A, B, and/or C, and mayinclude multiples of A, multiples of B, or multiples of C. Specifically,combinations such as “at least one of A, B, or C,” “one or more of A, B,or C,” “at least one of A, B, and C,” “one or more of A, B, and C,” and“A, B, C, or any combination thereof” may be A only, B only, C only, Aand B, A and C, B and C, or A and B and C, where any such combinationsmay contain one or more member or members of A, B, or C. Sets should beinterpreted as a set of elements where the elements number one or more.Accordingly, for a set of X, X would include one or more elements. If afirst apparatus receives data from or transmits data to a secondapparatus, the data may be received/transmitted directly between thefirst and second apparatuses, or indirectly between the first and secondapparatuses through a set of apparatuses. All structural and functionalequivalents to the elements of the various aspects described throughoutthis disclosure that are known or later come to be known to those ofordinary skill in the art are expressly incorporated herein by referenceand are encompassed by the claims. Moreover, nothing disclosed herein isdedicated to the public regardless of whether such disclosure isexplicitly recited in the claims. The words “module,” “mechanism,”“element,” “device,” and the like may not be a substitute for the word“means.” As such, no claim element is to be construed as a means plusfunction unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase “meansfor.”

As used herein, the phrase “based on” shall not be construed as areference to a closed set of information, one or more conditions, one ormore factors, or the like. In other words, the phrase “based on A”(where “A” may be information, a condition, a factor, or the like) shallbe construed as “based at least on A” unless specifically reciteddifferently.

The following aspects are illustrative only and may be combined withother aspects or teachings described herein, without limitation.

Aspect 1 is a method of wireless communication at a UE, including:receiving an allocation of one or more ZP slots from a network entity,the one or more ZP slots corresponding to one or more transmission gapsassociated with the network entity; detecting noise energy in the one ormore ZP slots corresponding to the one or more transmission gapsassociated with the network entity; and measuring the noise energydetected in the one or more ZP slots, the measured noise energy in theone or more ZP slots corresponding to a frequency dependence of an Rxsignal at the UE.

Aspect 2 may be combined with aspect 1 and includes that the allocationof the one or more ZP slots is a network-wide allocation of the one ormore ZP slots.

Aspect 3 may be combined with any of aspects 1-2 and includes thatmeasuring the noise energy detected in the one or more ZP slots furtherincludes averaging a total noise energy detected across the one or moreZP slots.

Aspect 4 may be combined with any of aspects 1-3 and includes that thenoise energy detected in the one or more ZP slots is based on at leastone of: one or more power gains associated with the one or more ZP slotsor one or more Rx beams associated with the one or more ZP slots.

Aspect 5 may be combined with any of aspects 1-4 and includes that theallocation of the one or more ZP slots corresponds to a periodicallocation, an aperiodic allocation, or a semi-persistent allocation.

Aspect 6 may be combined with any of aspects 1-5 and further includesreceiving an indication of an adjustment to the allocation of the one ormore ZP slots, where the adjustment to the allocation of the one or moreZP slots is indicative of at least one of: a first change to a number ofslots in the allocation or a second change to a slot pattern associatedwith the allocation.

Aspect 7 may be combined with any of aspects 1-6 and includes that theone or more ZP slots correspond to a plurality of ZP slots including atleast one non-contiguous ZP slot.

Aspect 8 may be combined with any of aspects 1-7 and further includesdetecting the noise energy and a Tx signal of the network entity in oneor more NZP slots; measuring the noise energy with the Tx signal of thenetwork entity in the one or more NZP slots, where a second measurementof the noise energy and the Tx signal of the network entity correspondsto a combined frequency dependence of the Tx signal and the Rx signal;and reporting the measured noise energy that corresponds to thefrequency dependence of the Rx signal and the second measurement thatcorresponds to the combined frequency dependence of the Tx signal andthe Rx signal to the network entity.

Aspect 9 may be combined with any of aspects 1-8 and includes that adifference between the combined frequency dependence of the Tx signaland the Rx signal and the frequency dependence of the Rx signalcorresponds to a second frequency dependence of the Tx signal.

Aspect 10 may be combined with any of aspects 1-9 and includes that thesecond frequency dependence of the Tx signal corresponds to apre-compensation to one or more subsequent Tx signals received from thenetwork entity.

Aspect 11 may be combined with any of aspects 1-10 and includes that thefrequency dependence of the Rx signal is based on an Rx chain beingamplified to a highest level of an amplifier.

Aspect 12 is a method of wireless communication at a network entity,including: transmitting an allocation of one or more ZP slots to atleast one UE, the one or more ZP slots corresponding to one or moretransmission gaps associated with the network entity; and receiving areport of a first measurement that corresponds to a frequency dependenceof an Rx signal at the at least one UE and a second measurement thatcorresponds to a combined frequency dependence of a Tx signal of thenetwork entity and the Rx signal at the at least one UE, the firstmeasurement associated with noise energy in the one or more ZP slotscorresponding to the one or more transmission gaps associated with thenetwork entity.

Aspect 13 may be combined with aspect 12 and includes that theallocation of the one or more ZP slots is a network-wide allocation ofthe one or more ZP slots.

Aspect 14 may be combined with any of aspects 12-13 and includes thatthe first measurement associated with the noise energy in the one ormore ZP slots corresponds to an average of a total noise energy in theone or more ZP slots.

Aspect 15 may be combined with any of aspects 12-14 and includes thatthe allocation of the one or more ZP slots corresponds to a periodicallocation, an aperiodic allocation, or a semi-persistent allocation.

Aspect 16 may be combined with any of aspects 12-15 and further includestransmitting an indication of an adjustment to the allocation of the oneor more ZP slots, where the adjustment to the allocation of the one ormore ZP slots is indicative of at least one of: a first change to anumber of slots in the allocation or a second change to a slot patternassociated with the allocation.

Aspect 17 may be combined with any of aspects 12-16 and includes thatthe one or more ZP slots correspond to a plurality of ZP slots includingat least one non-contiguous ZP slot.

Aspect 18 may be combined with any of aspects 12-17 and includes that adifference between the combined frequency dependence of the Tx signaland the Rx signal and the frequency dependence of the Rx signalcorresponds to a second frequency dependence of the Tx signal.

Aspect 19 may be combined with any of aspects 12-18 and further includesapplying a pre-compensation to one or more subsequent Tx signals of thenetwork entity based on the second frequency dependence of the Txsignal.

Aspect 20 may be combined with any of aspects 12-19 and includes thatthe at least one UE corresponds to a plurality of UEs, the methodfurther including receiving one or more additional reports from theplurality of UEs, the one or more additional reports indicative ofrespective Rx frequency dependence measurements and combined frequencydependence measurements of the plurality of UEs.

Aspect 21 may be combined with any of aspects 12-20 and further includesapplying a pre-compensation to one or more subsequent Tx signals of thenetwork entity based on the one or more additional reports.

Aspect 22 may be combined with any of aspects 12-21 and includes thatthe frequency dependence of the Rx signal is based on an Rx chain beingamplified to a highest level of an amplifier.

Aspect 23 is an apparatus for wireless communication for implementing amethod as in any of aspects 1-22.

Aspect 24 is an apparatus for wireless communication including means forimplementing a method as in any of aspects 1-22.

Aspect 25 may be combined with any of aspects 23-24 and further includesat least one of a transceiver, an antenna, or an amplifier coupled to atleast one processor of the apparatus.

Aspect 26 is a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computerexecutable code, the code when executed by at least one processor causesthe at least one processor to implement a method as in any of aspects1-22.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for wireless communication at a user equipment (UE), comprising: a memory; and at least one processor coupled to the memory and, based at least in part on information stored in the memory, the at least one processor is configured to: receive an allocation of one or more zero power (ZP) slots from a network entity, the one or more ZP slots corresponding to one or more transmission gaps associated with the network entity; detect noise energy in the one or more ZP slots corresponding to the one or more transmission gaps associated with the network entity; and measure the noise energy detected in the one or more ZP slots, wherein the measured noise energy in the one or more ZP slots corresponds to a frequency dependence of a receive (Rx) signal at the UE.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the allocation of the one or more ZP slots is a network-wide allocation of the one or more ZP slots.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein measuring the noise energy detected in the one or more ZP slots comprises averaging a total noise energy detected across the one or more ZP slots.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the noise energy detected in the one or more ZP slots is based on at least one of: one or more power gains associated with the one or more ZP slots or one or more Rx beams associated with the one or more ZP slots.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the allocation of the one or more ZP slots corresponds to a periodic allocation, an aperiodic allocation, or a semi-persistent allocation.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to receive an indication of an adjustment to the allocation of the one or more ZP slots, wherein the adjustment to the allocation of the one or more ZP slots is indicative of at least one of: a first change to a number of slots in the allocation or a second change to a slot pattern associated with the allocation.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more ZP slots correspond to a plurality of ZP slots including at least one non-contiguous ZP slot.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to: detect the noise energy and a transmit (Tx) signal of the network entity in one or more non-zero power (NZP) slots; measure the noise energy with the Tx signal of the network entity in the one or more NZP slots, wherein a second measurement of the noise energy and the Tx signal of the network entity corresponds to a combined frequency dependence of the Tx signal and the Rx signal; and report the measured noise energy that corresponds to the frequency dependence of the Rx signal and the second measurement that corresponds to the combined frequency dependence of the Tx signal and the Rx signal to the network entity.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein a difference between the combined frequency dependence of the Tx signal and the Rx signal and the frequency dependence of the Rx signal corresponds to a second frequency dependence of the Tx signal.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the second frequency dependence of the Tx signal corresponds to a pre-compensation to one or more subsequent Tx signals received from the network entity.
 11. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one of a transceiver, an antenna, or an amplifier coupled to the at least one processor, wherein the frequency dependence of the Rx signal is based on an Rx chain being amplified to a highest level of the amplifier.
 12. An apparatus for wireless communication at a network entity, comprising: a memory; and at least one processor coupled to the memory and, based at least in part on information stored in the memory, the at least one processor is configured to: transmit an allocation of one or more zero power (ZP) slots to at least one user equipment (UE), the one or more ZP slots corresponding to one or more transmission gaps associated with the network entity; and receive a report of a first measurement that corresponds to a frequency dependence of a receive (Rx) signal at the at least one UE and a second measurement that corresponds to a combined frequency dependence of a transmit (Tx) signal of the network entity and the Rx signal at the at least one UE, the first measurement associated with noise energy in the one or more ZP slots corresponding to the one or more transmission gaps associated with the network entity.
 13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the allocation of the one or more ZP slots is a network-wide allocation of the one or more ZP slots.
 14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the first measurement associated with the noise energy in the one or more ZP slots corresponds to an average of a total noise energy in the one or more ZP slots.
 15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the allocation of the one or more ZP slots corresponds to a periodic allocation, an aperiodic allocation, or a semi-persistent allocation.
 16. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to transmit an indication of an adjustment to the allocation of the one or more ZP slots, wherein the adjustment to the allocation of the one or more ZP slots is indicative of at least one of: a first change to a number of slots in the allocation or a second change to a slot pattern associated with the allocation.
 17. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the one or more ZP slots correspond to a plurality of ZP slots including at least one non-contiguous ZP slot.
 18. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein a difference between the combined frequency dependence of the Tx signal and the Rx signal and the frequency dependence of the Rx signal corresponds to a second frequency dependence of the Tx signal.
 19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to apply a pre-compensation to one or more subsequent Tx signals of the network entity based on the second frequency dependence of the Tx signal.
 20. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the at least one UE corresponds to a plurality of UEs and the at least one processor is further configured to receive one or more additional reports from the plurality of UEs, the one or more additional reports indicative of respective Rx frequency dependence measurements and combined frequency dependence measurements of the plurality of UEs.
 21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to apply a pre-compensation to one or more subsequent Tx signals of the network entity based on the one or more additional reports.
 22. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising at least one of a transceiver, an antenna, or an amplifier coupled to the at least one processor, wherein the frequency dependence of the Rx signal is based on an Rx chain being amplified to a highest level of the amplifier.
 23. A method of wireless communication at a user equipment (UE), comprising: receiving an allocation of one or more zero power (ZP) slots from a network entity, the one or more ZP slots corresponding to one or more transmission gaps associated with the network entity; detecting noise energy in the one or more ZP slots corresponding to the one or more transmission gaps associated with the network entity; and measuring the noise energy detected in the one or more ZP slots, wherein the measured noise energy in the one or more ZP slots corresponds to a frequency dependence of a receive (Rx) signal at the UE.
 24. The method of claim 23, wherein the allocation of the one or more ZP slots is a network-wide allocation of the one or more ZP slots.
 25. The method of claim 23, wherein measuring the noise energy detected in the one or more ZP slots comprises averaging a total noise energy detected across the one or more ZP slots.
 26. The method of claim 23, wherein the noise energy detected in the one or more ZP slots is based on at least one of: one or more power gains associated with the one or more ZP slots or one or more Rx beams associated with the one or more ZP slots.
 27. The method of claim 23, wherein the allocation of the one or more ZP slots corresponds to a periodic allocation, an aperiodic allocation, or a semi-persistent allocation.
 28. The method of claim 23, further comprising receiving an indication of an adjustment to the allocation of the one or more ZP slots, wherein the adjustment to the allocation of the one or more ZP slots is indicative of at least one of: a first change to a number of slots in the allocation or a second change to a slot pattern associated with the allocation.
 29. The method of claim 23, wherein the one or more ZP slots correspond to a plurality of ZP slots including at least one non-contiguous ZP slot.
 30. A method of wireless communication at a network entity, comprising: transmitting an allocation of one or more zero power (ZP) slots to at least one user equipment (UE), the one or more ZP slots corresponding to one or more transmission gaps associated with the network entity; and receiving a report of a first measurement that corresponds to a frequency dependence of a receive (Rx) signal at the at least one UE and a second measurement that corresponds to a combined frequency dependence of a transmit (Tx) signal of the network entity and the Rx signal at the at least one UE, the first measurement associated with noise energy in the one or more ZP slots corresponding to the one or more transmission gaps associated with the network entity. 